Offentliche Theologie Zwischen Klang Und Sprache: Hymnen ALS Eine Verkorperungsform Von Religion

Public perception of the church is not restricted to sermons and official statements. Rather, religion is embodied in various forms - including buildings and townscape, rituals and music. Examining the case of hymns, the anthology intends to widen the scope for Public Theology so as to include non-discursive forms of religious and quasi-religious utterances. The characteristics of the medium - language as well as sound - are analysed, as well as the musical dimension of hymns and the relation between doxology and ethics. Chances and dangers inherent in hymns as part of religious communication are highlighted. Can hymns be criticised, and what is the context for such criticism? As the contributions in this volume show, the public dimension of hymns must not be underestimated, even in a secular society.